Shoelace Securing Device and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

A shoe fastening device and/or technique used to fasten a shoe is disclosed herein. A shoelace can be laced into a shoe in any number of lacing patterns. The two ends of the shoelace may be secured to the shoe. An overhand knot may be present when the shoelace is in a loosened configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/477,095 filed Apr. 2, 2017, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/326,731 filed on Apr. 23, 2016; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/959,941 filed on Jan. 11, 2020 which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to shoes and shoelaces. More particularly, a shoelace securing device and a method for using the same are disclosed.

Description of the Prior Art

A number of devices and technologies have been developed for improved securing and/or retention of shoes and/or shoelaces. These range from replacements for shoelaces (e.g., Velcro) to accessories for shoelaces (e.g., shoelace clamps). Additionally, there are benefits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shoe fastening device and/or technique used to fasten a shoe is disclosed herein. A shoelace can be laced into a shoe in any number of lacing patterns; including, but not limited to: lattice, ladder, zipper, double back, loop back, bushwalk, sawtooth, footbag, display, hash, twisty, hidden knot, riding bow, checkerboard, and/or bi-colour. When tying a traditional bow with a shoelace, an overhand knot may be tied followed by a loop knot (a loop knot may be defined as a loop knot and/or a bow knot); subsequently, a double-knot may be used. The overhand knot may be formed by crossing shoelace ends so that they form an “X” in the air; wrapping the bottom lace of the “X” over and through the top lace of the “X”. The loop knot may be formed by performing the following sequence: one of the shoelaces may be looped; the other lace may be wrapped around the base of the loop; the wrapping lace may be pushed under the loop and through the hole to form a second loop; and then finally the knot may be tightened (e.g., by pulling on the two loops). The overhand knot and/or loop knot may be formed using a different procedure. In one embodiment of this invention, the two ends of the shoelace may be secured to the shoe. The shoelace ends may be secured to the shoe by sewing, stitching, knotting, mechanically gripping, gluing, welding, brazing, soldering, fusing, melting, screwed and/or mechanically fastened. The ends of the shoelace may be rigidly fixed to the shoe and/or detachable from the shoe. Prior to securing the ends of the shoelaces to the shoe, an overhand knot may be tied. When putting the shoe onto the foot, the laces may be loosened. Sufficient slack may be present in the shoe lace such that minimal or no force is applied to the ends of the shoelaces that are secured to the shoe. To tie the shoelace, the lacing pattern may first be tightened by pulling on the loose ends and/or loops of the shoelace. If the overhand knot is already present, then the loops of the shoelace may be secured with a bow knot (e.g., a loop knot or bow knot may be performed by tying the loops together in a similar fashion to an overhand knot, thereby forming a bow). A secondary “double-knot” may also be applied. Upon completion, the tied shoelace may be functionally and aesthetically identical to a traditionally tied shoe lace; with the exception that the ends of the shoelace may be secured to the shoe.

The ends of the shoelace may be secured to various locations on the shoe. The two ends of the shoelace may be secured to the same or different locations on the same shoe. An end of the shoelace may be secured adjacent to the eyelet on the outside and/or inside of the shoe. An end of the shoelace may be secured to an eyelet of the shoe. An end of the shoelace may be secured into an eyelet of the shoe where the lace is already passing through.

The invention disclosed may offer a number of benefits over prior art. For example, by keeping the ends of the shoelace secured to the shoe, the knot may be less prone to being undone accidentally (e.g., by getting caught on something and/or being stepped on). Second, keeping the ends secured to the shoe may minimize the chance of the shoelace touching the floor and accumulating dirt and/or wear. Third, the shoelace may be unable to be undone accidentally (e.g., the end of the shoelace may be less prone to slipping out through an eyelet in the shoe). Fourth, the shoelace may be easier to tie and may require one less step if an overhand knot is already present. Additional benefits may be present, although not disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative isometric view of a variation of the shoe in the tied configuration.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative isometric view of a variation of the shoe in a partially untied configuration and/or partially tied configuration

FIG. 3 is an illustrative isometric view of a variation of the shoe in the fully untied and/or loosened configuration.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative isometric view of a shoe.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative isometric view of a shoe with the shoelace wrapped around the heel of the shoe.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of a pair of shorts with the lace in the partially untied configuration and/or partially tied configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a shoe 1 with a tongue 2 and a shoelace 3. The shoelace 3 may be tied to secure the shoelace and tighten the shoe 1, for example the shoe 1 can be tightened around a foot. The shoe may also take other forms and/or shapes and be secured around other objects, such as a knee, an elbow, a wrist, a back, a shin, a shoulder, and/or a neck. The shoe may take other forms and/or shapes that can be secured around other objects, such as pipes and/or rods. The shoelace 3 may be used to secure shorts, pants, a bag, a backpack, a jacket, a sweater, a hat, shirts, dresses and/or clothing. The shoelace 3 may be tied into a bow with a loop knot 4. The loop knot 4 may be an overhand knot, a square knot, a bowline, a slip knot, a bow, or any other suitable knot for tying the shoelace 3. The tied shoelace 3 may have a loop 7 a and/or 7 b. The loop knot 4 may be centered or approximately centered on the shoe or it may be offset. For example, the loop knot 4 may be centered between the left and right sides of the shoe 1. The shoelace 3 may be laced in any number of configurations, including lattice, ladder, zipper, double back, loop back, bushwalk, sawtooth, footbag, display, hash, twisty, hidden knot, riding bow, checkerboard, and/or bi-colour. A vamp 8 may be made of synthetic and/or natural fibers. The vamp 8 may be leather, metal, cloth and/or plastic. The vamp 8 may have holes, eyelets and/or loops to lace the shoelace 3 through. A shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may secure the end and/or the tip of the shoelace 3 to the vamp 8. The shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may be secured to other sections of the shoe 1, such as the tongue 2, the sole, the heel, the quarter and/or the internal lining. For example, the shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may be secured by sewing, stitching, knotting, mechanically gripping, gluing, welding, brazing, soldering, fusing, melting, screwing and/or mechanically fastening to a section of the shoe 1, such as the vamp 8. The shoelace terminations 5 a and/or 5 b may be secured to the shoe 1 and/or the vamp 8 using a button, a snap button, a rivet, a snap fastener, a cuff link, and/or any disengageable fastener. A shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may comprise a length of approximately 3 inches adjacent to the shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b. The shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may be longer than 1 inch, yet more narrowly larger than 2 inches, yet more narrowly longer than 3 inches, yet more narrowly longer than 4 inches, yet more narrowly longer than 5 inches, yet more narrowly longer than 6 inches, yet more narrowly longer than 8 inches, yet more narrowly longer than 10 inches, yet more narrowly longer than 12 inches. The shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may be shorter than 12 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 10 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 8 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 6 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 5 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 4 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 3 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 2 inches, yet more narrowly shorter than 1 inch. The shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may differ from the remainder of the shoelace 3; for example the shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may be a different color, diameter, material, geometry, shape, texture and/or have different friction characteristics than the remainder of the shoelace 3. The shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may have a different cross-sectional area and/or geometry than the remainder of the shoelace 3. The shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may have different properties than the remainder of the shoelace 3 for aesthetics, ergonomics (e.g., the ability to easily/clearly differentiate the shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b and/or have different grip characteristics). The shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may secure the ends of the shoelace 3 permanently to the shoe 1 such that the shoelace 3 cannot be removed from the vamp 8 and/or completely unlaced. The shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may secure the ends of the shoelace 3 permanently to the shoe 1 such that the shoelace 3 cannot be removed from the shoe 1 and/or unlaced. An additional section of shoelace 3 may extend past the shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b; for example the shoelace 3 may extend into the inside of the shoe 1 and/or within a lining of the shoe 1. The shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may be reversible so that the shoelace 3 can be replaced and/or re-laced. The shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may prevent the shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b from contacting the ground and/or the base of the shoe 1. The shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may prevent the shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b from getting caught on objects that could cause the shoelace 3 to become dirty and/or untied. The shoelace termination 5 a and/or 5 b may prevent the loop 7 a and/or 7 b, the shoelace 3, and/or the loop knot 4 from being untied accidentally. The shoelace 3 may be untied by pulling on the shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the shoelace 3 can be in a partially tied configuration and/or a partially untied configuration where an overhand knot 9 may be present, but the loop knot 4 may not be present. The overhand knot 9 may be overhand knot, a square knot, a bowline, a slip knot, a bow, or any other suitable knot for tying the shoelace 3. The overhand knot 9 may be a crossing of the shoelace 3, for example the shoelace ends 6 a and/or 6 b may be crossed and/or threaded over one another to make a knot. The overhand knot 9 may be formed by crossing the shoelace ends 6 a and/or 6 b so that they form an “X” in the air; wrapping the bottom lace of the “X” over and through the top lace of the “X”. The shoelace termination points 5 a and/or 5 b may prevent the shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b from becoming detached from the vamp 8 and/or any other section of the shoe 1. To tie the shoelace 3 into a bow as shown in FIG. 1, the loops 7 a and/or 7 b may be tied into the loop knot 4 over the overhand knot 9 (e.g., upon completion of tying the loop knot 4, the loops 7 a and/or 7 b may have switched to opposite sides of the shoe 1, so that the loop 7 a is where the loop 7 b was previously located). The loop knot 4 may be tied in a similar procedure to an overhand knot: the loop knot 4 may be formed by crossing the loops 7 a and/or 7 b so that they form an “X” in the air; wrapping the bottom loop of the “X” over and through the top loop of the “X”. A second overhand knot may be tied to form a double-knot.

FIG. 3 illustrates that when the shoelace 3 is loosened, the shoelace end section 6 a and/or 6 b may remain secured to the vamp 8 and/or any other section of the shoe 1. The overhand knot 9 is shown in a loosened configuration. For example, pulling on the shoelace end sections 6 a and/or 6 b may cause the overhand knot 9 to tighten into the configuration shown in FIG. 2. The shoelace 3 may be loosened sufficiently to allow an object (e.g., a foot and/or other object) to enter and/or exit the shoe. The shoelace 3 may be of an appropriate length to ensure or mitigate the shoelace 3 from touching the ground, even when in the loosened configuration. To tie the shoelace 3 into a knot and/or bow, the shoelace 3 may be pulled taught to form the loops 7 a and/or 7 b and/or tighten the overhand knot 9; then, the loops 7 a and/or 7 b may be tied into a loop knot 4. The shoelace 3 may be elastic and/or not elastic.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the shoe 1 may contain, comprise and/or include a heelcap 10, a topline 11, a shoelace 12, a lace guard 13, an eyelet or eyelets 14, a tongue 15, a throat 24, a toe box 16, a welt 17, a sole 18, a vamp 19, a throatline 20, a top piece 21, a quarter 22 and a heel 23.

FIG. 5 illustrates that the shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12 may be secured inside of the vamp 8, the vamp 19, the topline 11, the heelcap 10, the quarter 22 and/or some other portion of the shoe 1. For example, the shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12, may be a closed loop that is encased within the shoe 1 and cannot be removed from the shoe 1 without cutting, tearing and/or damaging the shoe 1. The shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12 may be secured to other portions of the shoe 1, such as the vamp 8, the vamp 19, the topline 11, the heelcap 10 and/or the quarter 22. The shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12 may exit the back of the shoe 1, for example out of the heelcap 10; the shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12 could be tightened and/or loosened by pulling on the portion of the shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12 exiting the heelcap 10. The portion of the shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12 exiting the heelcap 10 could be releasably secured via a clamp. Portions or the entirety of the shoelace 3 and/or the shoelace 12 may be elastic, inelastic and/or not elastic.

FIG. 6 illustrates that that a pair of short 50 in a partially tied and/or partially untied configuration. A lace 51, is crossed onto itself at a crossing point 53 to form loops 52 a and/or 52 b. The lace 51 may be wrapped around a waistband 54 of the shorts. For example, the waistband 54 may contain multiple loops or a hollow section to enclose the lace 51; when the lace 51 is pulled taught, the waistband 54 may tighten around a person's body. The lace 51 may pass through the waistband 54, a section of the lace inside of the waistband is shown in internal waistband sections 56 a and/or 56 b. The internal waistband sections 56 a and 56 b may be connected by continuing around the circumference of the waistband 54. The lace 51 may exit the waistband 54 at openings 55 a and/or 55 b. The openings 55 a and/or 55 b may be smaller than the width of the crossing point 53. The diameter of the openings 55 a and/or 55 b may be larger than the diameter of the lace 51. The diameter of the openings 55 a and/or 55 b may be smaller than the twice diameter of the lace 51. The diameter of the openings 55 a and/or 55 b may be smaller than the 1.5 times diameter of the lace 51. The diameter of the openings 55 a and/or 55 b may be small enough to prevent the crossing point 53 from passing through the openings 55 a and/or 55 b. The ends of the lace 51 may be secured to the shorts 50. The ends of the lace 1 may be secured to each other. The ends of the lace 51 may be secured to the waistband 54. The lace 51 may be secured such that the crossing point 53 cannot be undone. The ends of the lace 51 may be secured by sewing, stitching, knotting, mechanically gripping, gluing, welding, brazing, soldering, fusing, melting, screwed and/or mechanically fastened. The ends of the lace 51 may be rigidly fixed to the shorts 50 and/or detachable from the shorts 50. The ends of the lace 51 may be tied to each other. The ends of the lace 51 may be secured to the waistband 54. The ends of the lace 51 may contain or be compatible with a button and/or snap button. The ends of the lace 51 may be secured to the openings 55 a and/or 55 b; each end of the lace 51 could be knotted, thereby increasing the diameter of the end section of the lace 51 to prevent the end of the lace 51 from passing through and/or exiting the openings 55 a and/or 55 b. The crossing point 53 may be permanently present in the untied, partially untied, partially tied, or fully tied configuration. The loops 52 a and/or 52 b may always be present in the untied, partially untied, partially tied and/or fully tied configuration. The loops 52 a and 52 b may be tied in an overhand knot to form a secure knot, for example a bow knot. The loops 52 a and 52 b may be crossed to form an overhand knot to form a secure knot, for example a bow knot. Crossing the loops 52 a and 52 b may be the same method as that used to tie an overhand knot. The crossing point 53 may be formed using the same method as that used to tie an overhand knot. The lace 51 may be the shoelace 3. The loops 52 a/52 b may be the loops 7 a/7 b. The shorts 50 may be the shoe 1. The openings 55 may be the eyelets 14. The waistband 54 may be the vamp 8. The shorts 50 and the shoe 1 represent embodiments of the present invention; the present invention could be embodied and/or included in other applications, including, but not limited to pants, a bag, a backpack, a jacket, a sweater, a hat, shirts, dresses, sports equipment, and/or other articles of clothing.

The shoe 1 or any or all elements of the apparatuses described herein can be made from or coated with, for example, single or multiple stainless steel alloys, steel, spring steel, nickel titanium alloys (e.g., Nitinol), cobalt-chrome alloys (e.g., ELGILOY® from Elgin Specialty Metals, Elgin, Ill.; CONICHROME® from Carpenter Metals Corp., Wyomissing, Pa.), nickel-cobalt alloys (e.g., MP35N® from Magellan Industrial Trading Company, Inc., Westport, Conn.), molybdenum alloys (e.g., molybdenum TZM alloy), tungsten-rhenium alloys, polymers such as polyethylene teraphathalate (PET), polyester (e.g., DACRON® from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.), polypropylene, aromatic polyesters, such as liquid crystal polymers (e.g., Vectran, from Kuraray Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (i.e., extended chain, high-modulus or high-performance polyethylene) fiber and/or yarn (e.g., SPECTRA® Fiber and SPECTRA® Guard, from Honeywell International, Inc., Morris Township, N.J., or DYNEEMA® from Royal DSM N.V., Heerlen, the Netherlands), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Parylene poly(p-xylylene) polymers, Parylene N, Parylene C, Parylene D, expanded PTFE (ePTFE), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polycarbonate (PC), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), poly ether ketone ketone (PEKK) (also poly aryl ether ketone ketone), cotton, polyester, PET, PETG, leather, jute, hemp, nylon, polyether-block co-polyamide polymers (e.g., PEBAX® from ATOFINA, Paris, France), aliphatic polyether polyurethanes (e.g., TECOFLEX® from Thermedics Polymer Products, Wilmington, Mass.), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Nylon, Vinyl, polyurethane, thermoplastic, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), absorbable or resorbable polymers such as polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly-L-glycolic acid (PLGA), polylactic acid (PLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethyl acrylate (PEA), polydioxanone (PDS), and pseudo-polyamino tyrosine-based acids, extruded collagen, silicone, zinc, echogenic, radioactive, radiopaque materials, a biomaterial (e.g., cadaver tissue, collagen, allograft, autograft, xenograft, bone cement, morselized bone, osteogenic powder, beads of bone), a material with high strength (60 ksi) and biocompatibility, any of the other materials listed herein or combinations thereof. Examples of radiopaque materials are barium sulfate, zinc oxide, titanium, stainless steel, nickel-titanium alloys, tantalum and gold. The device can be made from substantially 100% PEEK, substantially 100% titanium or titanium alloy, or combinations thereof.

It is apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to this disclosure, and equivalents employed, or combinations of any of the disclosed elements, characteristics, features, devices, tools, steps, or methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Any of the disclosed elements, characteristics, features, devices, tools, steps, or methods can be present as a singular or as a plurality regardless of whether the elements, characteristics, features, devices, steps, or methods are explicitly disclosed herein as being singular or as a plurality. Elements shown with any variation are exemplary for the specific variation and can be used on other variation within this disclosure. 

I claim:
 1. A shoe comprising: a shoelace having shoelace ends, a tongue and a vamp, wherein the vamp has a first right eyelet, a second right eyelet, a third right eyelet, a first left eyelet, a second left eyelet, and a third left eyelet, wherein the vamp is a single piece of flexible material; wherein the shoelace includes a left tip and a right tip, wherein the right tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp at a right shoelace termination; wherein the left tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp at a left shoelace termination; wherein the first right eyelet is the right eyelet closest to the right shoelace termination; wherein the first left eyelet is the left eyelet closest to the left shoelace termination; wherein the shoelace is not elastic; wherein the shoelace extends from the left shoelace termination to the first right eyelet, from the first right eyelet to the second left eyelet, from the second left eyelet to the third right eyelet, from the third right eyelet to the third left eyelet, from the third left eyelet to the second right eyelet, from the second right eyelet to the first left eyelet, from the first left eyelet to the right shoelace termination; wherein an overhand knot is present in the shoelace when the shoe is in a loosened configuration, a partially tied configuration or a tied configuration; and wherein the overhand knot is further defined as crossing the shoelace ends so that they form an “X” and wrapping a bottom length of the shoelace of the “X” over and through the top length of the shoelace of the “X”; and wherein the overhand knot is located between the left shoelace termination and the first right eyelet; and wherein the overhand knot is located between the right shoelace termination and the first eyelet.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoelace end section is colored differently than the remainder of the shoelace.
 3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoelace end section is textured differently than the remainder of the shoelace.
 4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp with at least one of the following: thread, string or yarn.
 5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the entire shoelace is elevated above the ground when in the loosened configuration.
 6. A shoe comprising: a shoelace having shoelace ends, a tongue and a vamp, wherein the vamp has a first right eyelet, a second right eyelet, a third right eyelet, a first left eyelet, a second left eyelet, and a third left eyelet; wherein a right tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp at a right shoelace termination; wherein a left tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp at a left shoelace termination; wherein the right and left tips can have a different property than the remainder of the shoelace; wherein the first right eyelet is the right eyelet closest to the right shoelace termination; wherein the first left eyelet is the left eyelet closest to the left shoelace termination; wherein the shoelace is not elastic; wherein the shoelace extends from the left shoelace termination to the first right eyelet, from the first right eyelet to the second left eyelet, and from the second left eyelet to the third right eyelet; wherein a knot is present in the shoelace when the shoe is in a loosened configuration, a partially tied configuration or a tied configuration; wherein the knot is further defined as crossing the shoelace ends; and wherein the knot is located between the left shoelace termination and the first right eyelet; and wherein the knot is located between the right shoelace termination and the first left eyelet.
 7. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the entire shoelace is elevated above the ground when in the loosened configuration.
 8. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the tip of the shoelace is reversibly secured to the vamp.
 9. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp with at least one of the following: thread, string or yarn.
 10. A shoe comprising: a shoelace having shoelace ends, a tongue and a vamp, wherein the vamp has a first right eyelet, a second right eyelet, a third right eyelet, a first left eyelet, a second left eyelet, and a third left eyelet; wherein a right tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp at a right shoelace termination; wherein a left tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp at a left shoelace termination; wherein the right and left tips can have a different property than the remainder of the shoelace; wherein the first right eyelet is the right eyelet closest to the right shoelace termination; wherein the first left eyelet is the left eyelet closest to the left shoelace termination; wherein a knot is present in the shoelace when the shoe is in a loosened configuration, a partially tied configuration or a tied configuration; wherein the knot is further defined as including a crossing of the shoelace ends; and wherein the knot is located between the left shoelace termination and the first right eyelet; and wherein the knot is located between the right shoelace termination and the first left eyelet; wherein the shoelace is not elastic; and wherein the tied configuration has exactly one more additional knot in the shoelace than in the untied configuration.
 11. The shoe of claim 10, wherein the tip of the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp.
 12. The shoe of claim 10, wherein the shoelace is permanently secured to the vamp with at least one of the following: thread, string or yarn.
 13. The shoe of claim 10, wherein the shoelace is inelastic.
 14. The shoe of claim 10, wherein the shoe is laced in a lattice, ladder, zipper, double back, loop back, bushwalk, sawtooth, footbag, display, hash, twisty, hidden knot, riding bow, checkerboard, or bi-colour configuration. 